DAN meet over Cong ultimatum

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Kohima, Nov. 19: The ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government held an emergency meeting at the chief minister’s banquet hall here this evening after the Opposition Congress served an ultimatum to it asking whether its legislators will quit the Joint Legislature Forum.

Under the forum, the Naga People’s Front (NPF)-led DAN government resolved to pave the way for an alternative arrangement and step aside from present positions in the event of a logical conclusion to the Naga peace process.

All 60 members of Nagaland Assembly are members of the forum.

The Opposition Congress has set tomorrow as the deadline to come clean on its stand.

However, the DAN government is not undeterred by such threats from the Congress. “We are not worried even if Congress walks out of the forum,” a DAN insider said after the meeting.

He said it was “foolish” on the part of the Opposition Congress to resign before any solution.

“When there is no solution yet to the Naga political problem, how can we resign? We will not resign,” he added.

Today’s meeting also lambasted the Opposition for what it claimed unreasonable demands. “We will stand by July 19, 2012, resolution of the forum,” he said.

Another source said the 18 Congress legislators and one Independent now with the party could resign if they wanted.

With the latest development and the NPF leaders deciding not to succumb to any pressure from the Congress, the forum is hanging in balance.

The Congress leaders, however, could not be contacted for their comment.